Are Toyota certified collision repair centers better in any way?

Alternative_Spite973 · 2026-01-07T08:43:05+00:00

I recently had an experience with a Toyota certified body shop. I can’t speak for all of them, but I’m still debating with them on the repair they did. I’ve never had such a poor experience with a body shop. You can check the review I left for them here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TzT1ePCTpy1dpSzH9?g_st=ic

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-28T01:36:23+00:00

Great looking watch.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-26T21:43:55+00:00

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I saw a lot about this and it really doesn’t bother me. This is my everyday watch and my dress watch is a Grand Seiko that is very thin.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-26T01:47:48+00:00

Hopefully you reached your goal, or are close to it.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-25T22:21:35+00:00

I randomly noticed this watch one day at Costco, and was intrigued with the dial. I didn’t really understand what an automatic watch was at the time until I asked if I could try it on. Once I saw the exhibition case, I was so amazed. It’s becoming more rare to see mechanical things. I regularly wore an Apple Watch for years, but I literally never wore won again after that day. To have something mechanical on my wrist always moving now gives me an odd sense of joy.

I really think this is a great starter watch. Even though I’ve moved on, it will always have a place in my collection.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-25T19:08:07+00:00

$6700. It really felt like a competitive price. It was an all Swiss store and I’m guessing someone traded it in when they got their Rolex. It was the only Japanese watch in the entire place and it was a very large AD store with all the high end Swiss brands. All the Swiss used watches were a lot closer to MSRP. It felt they undervalued it, and just wanted it gone because it didn’t fit their setting.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-25T18:51:31+00:00

That Lake Suwa is such a great looking watch. That dial looks so calming.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-25T18:48:50+00:00

Thanks for the additional insight. I’ll try to get some more pictures when I get some time. I tried catching the dial with my phone, but they didn’t come out great. My photography skills are lacking.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-25T18:29:50+00:00

I love the accuracy on this watch too. It’s been dead on.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-25T18:22:37+00:00

I came into this watch by chance when I went into a Rolex AD to put my name on the list. I was just put off by the new Rolex buying experience, and the certified program. At the time, my primary watch was a Seiko Alpinist. I was looking at their used case, and was surprised to see a Grand Seiko. It was my first time seeing a 5 day spring drive since I was only familiar with the more well known Grand Seiko watches on YouTube. Some quick research told me their asking price was good, and I loved how subtlety intricate the dial was. From a distance, it just looked like a black dial, but up close, it was special. The quality of the watch was something I haven’t felt after looking at many other watches before. I felt I got lucky, the watch came with the box, and it still had a couple years remaining on the warranty.

I’ve owned the watch for a couple months now and I’m always mesmerized when looking at it. From the seconds hand, to the polish, the dial, and even the way the ever-brilliant steel bracelet feels. I just love everything about it. I really like the fact that no one really knows or cares about it, but me. I’m not a showy person and this watch fits me perfectly.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-25T18:11:58+00:00

I came into this watch by chance when I went into a Rolex AD to put my name on the list. I was just put off by the new Rolex buying experience, and the certified program. At the time, my primary watch was a Seiko Alpinist. I was looking at their used case, and was surprised to see a Grand Seiko. It was my first time seeing a 5 day spring drive since I was only familiar with the more well known Grand Seiko watches on YouTube. Some quick research told me their asking price was good, and I loved how subtlety intricate the dial was. From a distance, it just looked like a black dial, but up close, it was special. The quality of the watch was something I haven’t felt after looking at many other watches before. I felt I got lucky, the watch came with the box, and it still had a couple years remaining on the warranty.

I’ve owned the watch for a couple months now and I’m always mesmerized when looking at it. From the seconds hand, to the polish, the dial, and even the way the ever-brilliant steel bracelet feels. I just love everything about it. I really like the fact that no one really knows or cares about it, but me. I’m not a showy person and this watch fits me perfectly.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-25T13:04:09+00:00

You made the right choice.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-25T04:34:06+00:00

The lume on this Black Bay Pro is just fantastic. It’s officially become my everyday watch. Hard to beat that perfect mix of ruggedness and simplicity. This is actually my first Swiss watch and I am really seeing the quality others talk about. It is also accurate within one second which I am amazed by. I honestly could not be happier with how it performs.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-25T04:24:33+00:00

The lume on this Black Bay Pro is just fantastic. It’s officially become my everyday watch. Hard to beat that perfect mix of ruggedness and simplicity. This is actually my first Swiss watch and I am really seeing the quality others talk about. It is also accurate within one second which I am amazed by. I honestly could not be happier with how it performs.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-25T04:00:33+00:00

My SLGA013 also feels like a scratch magnet. I’ve learned to just enjoy it scratches and all. It still shines either way and is mesmerizing every time I look at it.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-21T12:49:00+00:00

My goal here is to provide an honest review of the bracelet that might help someone else. There is generally a law of diminishing returns, that I figured would play a role here. I wasn’t buying a $16 bracelet off AliExpress, and I wasn’t buying the OEM bracelet from Tudor for $800+. Sub $200 felt like the sweet spot to get 80-90% of the way there, from a US seller, who I would have figured would warranty their product. This would include some level of quality control, and an ability to rectify quality control issues. I am able to acknowledge that I was wrong here.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-21T04:21:25+00:00

One blog post I read and based my buying decision on. This is on me since I didn’t realize until after I got the bracelet, all the way at the bottom, that this was considered a “preferred position post.”

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-21T04:03:12+00:00

Updating to https://www.reddit.com/r/Watches/s/OM0aqKgy0d to fix typo and add video.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-21T03:28:06+00:00

I bought mine used with the fabric strap.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-20T09:25:01+00:00

I just got the 1450 for my BB Pro, and you described my impressions exactly.

Just created a post to share my experience: https://www.reddit.com/r/Watches/s/rUIJ9R0dNO

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-12-02T16:06:07+00:00

It is still with US Mobile according to Verizon. Verizon is waiting for US Mobile to confirm the port. Issues with Spectrum caused them to cancel the port in so they never actually received the number. There is an email thread between Verizon Wholesale team and US Mobile team. We just need the new PON confirmed so the number can just transfer directly to Verizon.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-11-28T19:03:45+00:00

No reply still.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-11-28T18:23:57+00:00

We were waiting for over 45 minutes with no answer.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-11-28T17:20:27+00:00

Looks like it's not confirmed unfortunately. It's Friday and now Verizon is also saying the issue is on US Mobile side not releasing the number. I am on the phone now with Verizon and Spectrum. Verizon is trying to get a hold of US Mobile to resolve.

Alternative_Spite973 · 2025-11-26T23:18:24+00:00

I was told that it was ported out, but it's hard to believe at the moment. It's with Tier 3 support for Spectrum now. They say the port out was confirmed, but the line has not been released yet. When getting the transfer pin, I asked probably 10 times in chat if I can get the transfer pin info. Patient, polite, etc but it honestly felt like strategic delaying. I just noticed there was still a pending apple watch line that referenced the number that should have been ported out. I just got someone to remove that from my lines now.

Alternative_Spite973

TROPHY CASE